Francis Ngannou released Jon Jones Ciryl Gane to clash for heavyweight title

Francis Ngannou was discharged At UFC 285, Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane will square off for the heavyweight championship.

Francis Ngannou's dismissal from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was officially announced by President Dana White at the press conference following UFC Vegas 67 on Sunday.

During the UFC Vegas 67 post-fight news conference on Sunday, president Dana White announced that Francis Ngannou had been fired from the organisation. The undisputed heavyweight champion became a free agent because Francis, a French MMA fighter, declined to sign a new contract after the UFC gave him a hefty offer that would have made him the highest-paid athlete in the organisation.

We are waiving the right to match and will release Francis Ngannou from his contract.He is free to go wherever and engage in any activity, according to White.

We presented Ngannou with a contract that would have made him the all-time highest-paid heavyweight. White then clarified, "He declined it.

Ngannou won the heavyweight championship in 2021 after knocking out Stipe Miocic at UFC 260. The Frenchman had only once successfully defended his title, against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270, when he hurt his knee.

The UFC's heavyweight division is now open with the release of Ngannou, and White has stated that Jon Jones and Gane will fight for the championship at UFC 285 in March in Las Vegas.

Ngannou is one of the most well-known free agents to hit the open market in MMA history, so it will be intriguing to watch where he travels next.

Jones, a two-time UFC light heavyweight champion, defeated opponents including Daniel Cormier, Glover Teixeira, Maurcio Rua, Quinton Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans, and Vitor Belfort while making 11 successful title defences between 2011 and 2016.

In contrast, Gane has triumphed in eight of his nine UFC outings. His lone defeat came in his opening bout for the UFC heavyweight championship against former champion Ngannou.